Life for the over-65s is easier than it is sometimes portrayed. MONIQUE DEVEREUX looks at what the latest Government research reveals.
A Government report on the Living Standards of Older New Zealanders released yesterday reveals that the over-65s are better off than expected.
Who are these older New Zealanders?
The 1996 census recorded 422,667 people over 65, or 11.6 of the population.
Population projections indicate that this group will increase more than any other. By 2051, more than a quarter of New Zealanders are expected to be 65 and over.
The greatest increase will really begin after 2011 as the baby boomers - those born between July 1, 1946, and June 30, 1961 - start to reach the ripe old age of 65.
Across the world, increasing older populations are being recorded as social and economic conditions change. In New Zealand, the population bulge in the older sector is due to fewer children being born and life expectancy improving.
In 1996, there were 132 women aged over 65 to every 100 men. But that gap is decreasing, and by 2051 the ratio is expected to be 123 women to 100 men.
The ratio will be different in the 85-plus group, however. By the year 2051 there will be 162 women for every 100 men.
In 1996, life expectancy for a newborn female was 79.6 years, compared with 74.3 years for her male counterpart.
Who was surveyed in the Living Standards of Older New Zealanders report?
There were 3060 older people surveyed, 1618 of them single and 1442 part of a couple.
About three-quarters of the single people were women, although in the couples there were equal numbers of men and women. The average age of the single people was 76; the couples tended to be younger.
Only 3 per cent of the people in couples were in de facto relationships. The rest were legally married. Of those who were single, three-quarters had been widowed.
Almost all the people surveyed did not have anyone else living with them - 90 per cent of the couples and 82 per cent of the single people - and those who did live with others lived with relatives.
How about their health?
The report looked at health problems the older people suffered or had received treatment for in the past year.
The most common illness was hypertension, or high blood pressure, but there was also a large number of people with arthritis, asthma and back problems.
Many had physical difficulties or disabilities, which ranged from difficulty walking significant distances or up stairs to difficulty maintaining concentration.
The single people had an overall higher level of illness and disabilities than those in couples.
What do they live on?
The Living Standards survey questioned people about their incomes and whether they had enough to meet their day-to-day needs.
While 40 per cent of single people and 39 per cent of couples said they had "enough," about 12 per cent - over 50,000 of the nation's older people - said their incomes were "not enough."
All but 2 per cent of the people questioned received national superannuation, and most had at least one other supplementary income.
Other sources of income ranged from investments to private superannuation. However, 29 per cent of couples classed their other income as "earned," which points to many people still working despite being past retirement age.
Ten per cent of the single people and 6 per cent of couples relied on superannuation alone.
After tax, the median level of income for single people was $12,090, or $232 a week. Three-quarters of the single people questioned had an annual income totalling less than $23,000, or $440 a week.
Couples naturally received more money than their single counterparts, and the median income was $21,000, or $403 a week. In this group, three-quarters said their weekly income was under $623, or $32,500 a year.
Overall, the majority of older people's incomes fell within a relatively narrow band, ranging from $10,000 to $18,000 for singles and $16,000 to $40,000 for couples.
Most people said they had savings in the bank rather than any other kind of investment, but for almost a third of single people this was under $1000.
About 20 per cent of couples also had less than $1000, although 12 per cent said they had savings of between $25,000 and $50,000.
What can affect the well-being of elderly people?
Previous economic events: because the immediate economic situation of the over-65s is probably related to events in previous years, the survey asked what events or circumstances had disrupted the economic status of participants in the 10 years before they turned 60.
For single people, the two events that had the biggest effect on their finances were the death of a partner and major illness which required hospital treatment.
For couples, the most significant event - affecting 17 per cent - was also major illness requiring hospitalisation, but 10 per cent cited redundancy.
Others recorded financial losses, natural disasters, divorce and imprisonment as playing major parts in their present economic situation.
The report also looked at what caused the greatest financial stress over the 12 months before the survey.
While death of a partner, property damage, burglary, embezzlement, unusually large car bills, funeral costs and home maintenance all featured, for both couples and single people the highest source of stress was the replacement of a fridge or washing machine.
How do older people fare compared with people of working age?
Asked to rate their overall material standard of living on a five-point scale from high to low, 70 per cent of elderly single people and 68 per cent of elderly couples said their standard of living was medium.
Only 4 per cent of these singles and 6 per cent of couples rated it as high, while at the other end of the scale, 1 per cent of couples and 2 per cent of single people said their overall standard of living was low.
The report compared its findings about living standards of the over-65s with those aged between 18 and 64, based on a supplementary survey using the same questions.
The report found that there was a consistent pattern of younger people experiencing more hardship on average than older people, especially in the area of economising.
The Ministry of Social Policy will be analysing this further.
CASE HISTORIES
THE 5 PER CENT (BOTTOM) GROUP
(with generally lower living standards)
Single Person: Elsie, 75, widow, European.
Lives alone in Housing NZ accommodation.
Net income including housing supplement puts her in $12,000 to $14,000-a-year bracket. Accommodation $130 a week.
Material deprivation includes warm clothing, heating, dryer. Lack of special meals at home, visitors, or getting out once a fortnight. Many economies.
Serious financial difficulty (could not keep up payments for "utilities" - electricity, etc) in past year. Income not sufficient to meet day-to-day living expenses.
Couple: George, 69, and Betty, 67, married 30 years.
George, European, and Betty, Maori, live in own home with rates of $17 a week. Combined income in $16,000 to $18,000 bracket. No savings or investments.
No good warm clothes or video. Many economies including buying second-hand clothes, putting up with cold, postponing visits to doctor, etc.
Regarded overall living standard as "medium" but income not adequate to meet day-to-day living expenses.
THE 39 PER CENT (LARGEST) GROUP
Single Person: Roland, 76, wife died seven years ago.
Owns flat paying $18 a week in rates. Income in $12,000 to $14,000 range, savings and investments $25,000 to $50,000.
Few material hardships or difficulties but puts off buying clothes and visits to doctor. Income adequate to meet day-to-day living costs.
Couple: Peter, 71, and Helene, 66, together 15 years after divorcing previous partners.
Freehold home with $23 a week in rates.
Combined income $20,00 to $22,000 bracket, savings and investments in $50,000 to $100,000 bracket. Few areas of hardship or deprivation.
Social restrictions include not having holidays overseas or night out once a fortnight. Economised in meat buying and new clothes. Income adequate to meet day-to-day living costs.
THE 9 PER CENT (TOP) GROUP
Single person: Elizabeth, 80, European.
Living alone with considerable family support. Home owned by family trust. No accommodation costs. No health problems (but has hearing loss). Income $26,000 to $28,000, savings and investment $100,000 to $150,000 bracket.
No areas of hardship or difficulty, living standard "fairly high" and income more than adequate.
Couple: Frederick, 72, and Leonie, 65, married over 40 years.
Freehold home with rates of $30 a week. Excellent health.
Income $50,000-plus a year, savings and investments over $300,000.
No hardship or difficulty, standard of living "high," income more than adequate.
Living Standards of Older New Zealanders
